Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday warned local fishermen, engaged in multi-day fishing there was a risk of Sri Lankan fish exports to US being banned if they failed to take necessary precautions to prevent dolphins being caught while using long line’ (Maru Wel) fishing method. Minister Amaraweera said that he had already instructed his ministry officials to prepare a special programme to protect dolphins. They were caught as they used to eat bait the fishermen used to catch other fish and a new tool had already been introduced using modern technology to prevent attracting dolphins to the bait. The Ministry would take necessary actions to introduce the new technology to Sri Lanka next year and to distribute it among fishermen free of charge, Amaraweera said. According to statistics, Sri Lanka exported 4,088 MT of fish to United Sates in 2016 and that amount accounted for 29 percent of the country’s total fish exports. According to Central Bank statistics, the lifting of the ban on Sri Lankan fish exports to EU led to an increase in the demand for sea food from the country and resulted in a 40 percent increase in exports during the first half of this year. The export of sea food fetched USD 12.9 million during June in 2016 and in the corresponding month in year 2017 that amount went up to USD 15.2, an increase of 17.4 percent. The revenue from sea food export amount to USD 83.5 million first six months (Rs. 12,612 million) of 2016 and the corresponding period in 2017 saw an increase a USD 117.1 million increase in the revenue. It is illegal to catch dolphins according to the International Fisheries Law. Minister Amaraweera said he had instructed the police and navy to enforce the law strictly against fishermen using dynamite for fishing since the use of such illegal fishing methods has increased dramatically over past the few months.